Effect of Various Factors on the Level of Circulating Prolactin and Estradiol in Mice

摘要

The influence of various factors on circulating estradiol and prolactin levels was evaluated in adult female BALB/c mice maintained on a 12 hour light/12 hour dark cycle. The estradiol assay, attempted on 100 microliter serum from individual mice, gave extremely high estimates of serum estradiol when compared to previously reported values, and assay results on this volume of serum were considered to be erroneous. In contrast, the prolactin assay, on 75 microliter of serum from individual mice, gave results similar to those reported in the literature and was considered to be valid. Etherization did not increase prolactin levels above those found in decapitated mice. The environment in which mice were located during the 18 hour period prior to decapitation and the time of sacrifice during morning hours did not significantly influence prolactin levels. There was some evidence that ketamine and CO2 anesthesia may increase circulating prolactin levels.